47 – Empty Cavern

The sword descended from above, striking one of the black horns on Celestine’s head.

The impact cracked through the air, and a blinding flash sparked from the blade, washing everything white and erasing the surrounding details.

When the glare dissipated, the severed horn was spinning through the air, its smoking base cutting a trail as the machine hurtled onward.

The Gomp Three Thousand tore past Celestine in a screaming curve, shedding steam and sparks as it fought its own momentum.

The horn plunged and Celestine’s mask of calm shattered completely, her features twisting into an ugly grimace.

She thrust her hand toward the retreating contraption.

“I’m getting tired of all this,” she said, extending a single taloned finger.

A thin line of yellow light snapped from her fingertip, widening into a burning lance of color that split the steam apart as it surged forward, missing Ashley’s shoulder by a hair and striking the center of the boiler tank.

The Gomp Three Thousand exploded into a tempest of fire, smoke, and jagged metal, a ruined sun disintegrating beside the Eternal Flame.

Ashley turned, seeing Gomp and Simon tumbling blindly beneath the blast. Gomp had evidently had the guts to jump at the right moment, but now the only thing waiting for them was the ever-expanding pool of glowing blackness bleeding from the rotten crystal that now submerged all the cavern floor.

She caught it in the corner of her eye as it tumbled through the steam, spinning end over end, but she could get that later.

It’s probably too late for Aury, anyways.

Ashley activated [Blink].

Space fractured into geometric angles, her vision blurring before a cold pop of air pressure hit her jaw.

She vanished and materialized in the open pocket of air beside the falling pair, clamping her fingers around the iron links whipping between their waists.

“Can everybody here stop trying to get killed for five whole minutes?” she snapped.

The chain snapped taut in her fist, dragging her down two feet before her core locked and she anchored their combined weight in midair.

“S-sure thing,” Gomp stammered, his chin bobbing as he gripped the links. “Happy to oblige.”

Simon remained silent.

His gaze tracked Celestine as she drifted into the trajectory of the falling horn, her posture loose, descending at a steady pace. She extended her hand, and the black horn dropped into her open palm without a sound.

Her fingers closed around the bone.

She raised it between them, exposing the clean, smoking cut at the base.

“I bet you wanted a piece of him back as a souvenir,” Celestine said. “Too bad.”

Ashley shifted her grip on the staff and frowned.

But before she could act, a familiar blur of scales and teeth cut across the gap.

Paco clamped his jaws around Celestine’s hand, spitting flame at the same time, hoping something would pierce that demonic skin.

Celestine’s features stiffened as she jerked her arm back, her fingers opening by reflex.

The horn slipped free, tumbling into the space between them and spinning down once more.

Paco held o, the muscles knotting beneath his scales. His wings thrashed against the air currents, his claws scraping Celestine’s wrist while his teeth remained locked deep in her flesh.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Her expression flattened, the remaining trace of amusement vanishing.

She gripped his neck with her free arm, hauling him against her chest. Paco yelped, letting go, and faltered as her grip tightened, locking his spine in place.

“Enough with all of this,” Celestine said.

A growl vibrated through Paco’s teeth, muffled by the pressure on his throat and his own locked jaws. Celestine pulled him tighter against her side, her composure returning.

“You come with me.”

“Let Paco go!” Ashley snapped, forcing one last bolt from the [Forgotten Moon Staff].